Auto News 5

Akio Toyoda, president of his great-grandfather's loom-manufacturing company -- now a bit more involved with automobiles than with weaving machines -- went on record a while back as being determined to inject some pizzazz into his firm's products, although he didn't use that precise term. For a very long time, most Toyota cars have been real snoozers, albeit paragons of practicality, reliability, and longevity. Apparently, this Detroit show car is what Akio-san had in mind as "more exciting" design for a mainstream money-spinner.